Alien Crush

Game Summary

Alien Crush is a fan-favorite pinball game that features a sinister sci-fi theme. Play through a two-level playing field that comes to life with pulsating alien creatures. Rack up a high enough score, clear the board of these extraterrestrials and discover secret bonus stages. The game features realistic pinball action, complete with a tilt function and two selectable soundtracks. Do you have what it takes to fight back against this alien infestation?

The latest PSP firmware update indicates that the system might eventually play classic games from more than one platform, not unlike the Wii Virtual Console.
The 6.30 firmware version lets users group games stored on a memory stick by platform. The PS3 has been able to do this for some time between PS3 and original PlayStation games. Despite the PSP already incorporating PS1 playback, users couldn't group games like that on the platform. Now they can â€“ along with TurboGrafX and Neo Geo games. Read More

If you're a fan of SEGA, then do they ever have a Christmas special for you. From today (following the PlayStation Store update) until January 7th, they are marking 40% off all their titles and downloadable content available on the PlayStation Network. They are doing the same with titles on the Wii's Virtual Console, but that only lasts from Christmas Eve through the 6th of January. Read More

As time ticks down for 2009, one could only wonder which game would reach the Virtual Console first: Super Smash Bros., or Pilotwings. And with today marking the 500th release on Virtual Console, the choice seems obvious as the original Super Smash Bros. finally arrives in North America for a whopping 1,000 Wii Points.
While relatively primitive compared to the likes of Melee and Brawl, this is one I still look forward to trying out, mostly for some of the unique stages that for whatever reason were never brought back in later installments.
Smash Bros. isn't alone, however; the arcade version of Ninja Gaiden also arrives on Virtual Console... er, at last? It's 600 Wii Points, but Nintendo has an interesting way of selling it: "Each stage is based around popular Western misconceptions about ninja and Japan, making the game world a fantastic mix of ninja and American pop culture."
On the upside, at least you can toggle settings, such as number of lives and difficulty, so perhaps it will be a more tolerable experience now.
There are plenty of other releases this week, too, just in time for Christmas. That includes the game we looked at just last week, 530 Eco Shooter, now known here as "Eco Shooter: Plant 530," and Dragon's Lair for DSi. See what's what in the press release after the cut. Read More

A classic staple of video gaming is defeating endless hordes of aggressive space aliens, and this week's Wii-kly Update doesn't disappoint in that regard. But if that's not your thing, there's something else which may tickle your fancy instead...WiiWare
ALIEN CRUSH RETURNSâ„¢ (Hudson Entertainment, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone â€“ Animated Blood, Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): ALIEN CRUSH RETURNS is the ultimate incarnation of the popular TurboGrafx pinball classic, Alien Crush. Boasting innovative game and control features, this is one Wii experience that you don't want to miss. With all the ball-blazing simplicity and flipper action thrills of standard pinball, ALIEN CRUSH RETURNS has all the visual and digital elements that you've come to expect in a video game, including grotesque, eye-stunning playfields as well as unique Action Ball gimmicks that redefine the fun and excitement of pinball. You can even nudge the machine with your Wii Remote controller. What's more, you can connect via NintendoÂ® Wi-Fi Connection to enjoy a variety of features such as four-player head-to-head action, high score competitions and Extra Stage downloads.
Home Sweet Home (Big Blue Bubble Inc., 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): Picture this scene... You move into your new home, and every room is perfect. Every room, except one. Here is the blank canvas for your vision, but you lack the know-how. Who do you call? The Home Sweet Home team! Home Sweet Home will give you the chance to unleash your hidden talents as an interior designer. You choose the furniture, patterns and colors to create a masterpiece that will blow your client away. With simple controls, a fun graphical style and an easy-to-use interface, Home Sweet Home allows you to nurture your creative side. Remember, a house is not a home until it is a Home Sweet Home.
Virtual Console
Space Harrierâ„¢ (Sega Master System, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone â€“ Mild Fantasy Violence, 500 Wii Points): Space Harrier was originally released in the arcade in the 1980s, developed by AM2, which also developed OutRun and Afterburner. Space Harrier is widely recognizable by many arcade fans due to its distinctive, colorful art design and its fast-paced action. The SEGA Master System version is considered a solid port of the arcade game, containing 18 levels of intense fun. As the "Space Harrier," you must fight your way through "The Land of Dragons" and defeat the bosses at the end of each level to restore peace to the land. Are you prepared? Get ready! --Press Release Know what might be neat, though? Some sort of game that lets you put the home together like above, and then add a bunch (or all) of your Miis into one big house for some sort of reality TV kind of thing. Then again, I'm not big on reality TV, so how good of an idea could that be? Read More

Second verse, same as the first.
In a strange, near identical press release, Hudson has detailed the forthcoming Wiiware title, Bomberman blast.
Hit the jump for a couple more screens as well as some new details: Read More

Three screens of Alien Crush Returns, the Wiiware sequel to the classic pinball game, Alien Crush, have just been released by Hudson. A slew of details about the game accompanied the screens.
Hit the jump to see two more screens and learn more details: Read More